Miles That Matter

Coastal Scouting & Ice Cream Detours!

We believe in the power of walking to bring communities together; the power of doing something so out of the ordinary that it gets people talking, and hopefully donating.I had a really interesting experience last week while scouting the route. I was exploring the coastal path between Hornsea and Bridlington, visiting various spots to see if we could keep our trek on top of the cliffs alongside the King Charles III England Coast Path. As you may know, these cliffs are eroding quickly, so whilst we want to walk near the sea, safety has to be a priority!I stopped by a lovely antique salvage place where I was warned that some fencing had been put up near a local golf course. I decided to head straight to the clubhouse to investigate. As luck would have it, the Club Captain was there having a quiet beer. We ended up having a great chat about our walk and the "why" behind what we are doing. While he was adamant that the cliff edge near the course is currently too unsafe due to recent erosion, he was incredibly helpful in suggesting alternatives - which I’m happy to report include a pass-by of Mr. Moo’s Ice Cream parlour! We even had a quick exchange about my Belgian (Flemish) roots before I headed off.As I was leaving, I mentioned we might pop in for a coffee during the actual walk and the bar lady stopped me and said we should send over the details of our fundraising page because "we might get a few quid too."Isn’t that exactly what we are trying to do here? Something a bit wacky, but with seriousness at heart. It’s about getting people talking, getting them involved, and ultimately supporting our young people here in Yorkshire who need it most.Also, many thanks to the staff of the Water’s Edge Country Park and Visitor Centre in Barton-upon-Humber for info on Coastal Paths, to Leslie and the volunteers of the beautiful Hornsea Museum (haste ye there! The pottery!) for info on Hornsea to Brid coastal path, Robert Drummond and volunteers from the Trans Pennine Trail for info on Hull to Hornsea disused railway stretch, to the owner of the fabulous Antiques Reclaimed in Atwick, and to the captain and the bar manager of the Far Grange Golf course (we cannot wait to have breakfast there on 22 April).Every mile - and every conversation - counts. Thank you for following along and for your amazing support! – Elke

Mary and I are making great progress. Alongside various scouting trips (on which we will report in due course), we did some training on Sunday around the Hole of Horcum with the friendly walkers of ‘Jack’s Group’—a reference that only York/Pocklington/Beverley/Ryedale Ramblers and the East Yorkshire Long Distance Walkers will fully appreciate!This week Jack organised a wonderful 12-mile walk around the Hole of Horcum, via the quaint Levisham station, returning along a series of North York Moors trails. The route included a pleasing little climb between Talbot Wood and Pifelhead Wood. In total we covered 12 miles with around 1,600 feet of ascent, averaging 4.3 km / 2.7 miles per hour.That pace matters. For our fundraising challenge, Mary and I are aiming to settle into a steady rhythm of about 4.5 km / 2.8 miles per hour (including breaks). The route itself will be relatively flat—and hopefully less muddy—but pacing ourselves carefully should reduce the strain on joints and heels. It is also helping us plan sensible break points and visits to the IntoUniversity centres in Hull and Bridlington.Mary also had the chance to test her new walking poles (I now have serious walking-pole envy), and we were grateful for plenty of practical advice from our fellow walkers on kit, routes, and how to last the course.We also discussed my recent recce in North Lincolnshire, exploring the route from Grimsby to Barton-upon-Humber. Ongoing Environment Agency sea-defence work between Grimsby and Immingham Docks means we cannot join the King Charles III England Coast Path until about 12 miles into the walk. As a result, we have redesigned the first stretch and will head inland on Day 1.This new route avoids the industrial area north of Grimsby, bypasses a busy road near Immingham Docks, shields us from easterly winds and sea mist, and conveniently cuts about four miles off the day’s distance (23 instead of 27 miles). Much as we love being beside the seaside, this feels like a wise decision.The change may also bring an unexpected bonus. Our route now passes close to Thornton Abbey and Gatehouse near Ulceby, which English Heritage describes as “the largest and finest in any English monastery.” The site is currently closed for conservation work—but who knows what other interesting treasures we might discover along the way?More updates soon as the adventure—and the training—continues!